1881.] 
A. Cunningham —Relics from Ancient Persia. 
153 
pa should rather be in the situation of Maru and Andkoh. But the identi¬ 
fication of Zariaspa with Bactria or Balkh seems to me to be too well 
established by the direct testimony of Ptolemy, as well as by the coincidence 
of its name with Azergashasp or Azerasp, the famous fire-temple of Balkh, 
to be set aside by any reasoning founded on mere opinion. I disagree also 
with Wilson in thinking that Euthydemus would have shown good judg¬ 
ment in retiring upon Maru; for Maru stands on the edge of the desert, so 
that his further retreat would have been cut off, and he would have been 
compelled either to fight or to submit, and in such a position a defeat would 
have been fatal. By retiring upon Balkh there were two lines of retreat 
open to him ; either northward into the mountains of Sogdiana, or east¬ 
ward up the valley of the Oxus. By taking up this commanding position 
in front of his capital, EuthyMemus forced his antagonist to come to terms.” 
Zariaspa has been generally accepted as only another name for the old 
capital of Balkh, which was derived from its famous fire-temple of Azer- 
gashasp, or Azer-i-asp. I conclude that the treasure may have been hidden 
shortly before the defeat of Euthydemus, by some one who went to join the 
army on the Arius Biver and did not return to recover it. And there it 
has lain on the bank of the Oxus for upwards of two thousand years, whilst 
Parthians and Scythians, Sassanians and Arabs, Turks and Mughals have 
in turn swept over the country and crossed the river within a few miles of 
the hidden treasure. 
I have arranged the principal objects of this curious discovery in six 
Plates according to their subjects, followed by two Plates of coins, 
and a single Plate of bronze objects from Sistan, or Drangiana, which also 
formed a part of the Ancient Persian empire of the Achsemenkhe. Before 
discussing the varieties of dress and arms and ornaments brought to light in 
these curious relics, I think it best to give a brief description of the objects 
represented in the different Plates. 
Plate XL Royal Statuette. Solid silver, full size, weight 5,791 grains. 
In my own possession. The figure is represented in two views, both front 
and back. The upper part of the dress is bordered with broad bands of 
gold ornament let into the silver, with a similar gold band down the front 
of the long tunic. The diadem is fastened near the top of the head dress 
or tiara, with its broad ends hanging conspicuously at the back of the head. 
Plate XII. Royal Figures. Thin gold, full size, weight 81 grains. 
Author. 
No. 1. Standing figure with crown on head, right hand up-raised and 
left hand carrying a flower. Author. 
No. 2. Gold Bing, weighing 272 grains. Author. Crowned figure 
of king seated on a chair—holding a bird on his right hand and a flower in 
his left. 
